Honour killing, most often the murder of a woman or girl by any male member of the family, when she falls in love with the man of other religion, caste or community. The killer justifies actions by claiming that the victim has brought dishonour upon the family name or the prestige.

In a conservative society, girls and women have been suppressed for hundreds of years. They have been closely monitored and controlled in every aspect of life. The maintenance of a woman’s dignity, virginity and sexual purity are the responsibility of male guardian of the family. The definition of 'good women' is often related to the woman who marries with anyone her family chooses and maintains her virginity in the social narrative. Victim of honour killings usually is alleged to have engaged in “sexually immoral” actions, ranging from openly interacting or having affair with men without marriage or against family even if the couple is married. (even if they are victims of rape or sexual assault). However, a woman can be targeted for murder for a variety of other reasons, including refusing to enter an arranged marriage or seeking a divorce or separation- even from an abusive husband. Acts include female behaviours that are roaming around alone or with friends, choosing life partner of her choice and way of dressing, also including being homosexual. As a result, according to the family that they lose all the respect in the community and among relatives. So, the only way the shame can be removed through killing. The culture in which honour killing takes place is usually considered “collective cultures”, where the family is more important than the individual.The mere suspicion that a woman has acted in a manner that damage her family’s name may trigger an attack; these assumptions are generally based on men’s feelings and perceptions rather than on objective truth. Ironically, female relatives often defend the killings and occasionally help set them up.

Such crimes are widely suspected to be underreported the United Nations Population Fund estimates that as many as 5,000 women are killed annually for reasons of honour. These crimes take place throughout the world and are not limited to one specific religion or faith. However, they have rather significantly and consistently occurred in various parts of the Middle East and South Asia, with nearly half of all honour killings occurring in India and Pakistan.

History of honour killing

The origin of honour killings and the control of women is evident throughout the history in the cultures and traditions of many regions. The Roman gave complete control to the men of the family over both their children and wives were at the discretion of the men in their families. Ancient Roman law also justified honour killings by stating that women who were found guilty of adultery could be killed by their husbands. During the Qing dynasty in China, fathers and husbands had the right to kill daughters who were deemed to have dishonoured the family.

What are the causes of honour killing?

Honour killing is a result of strongly against views towards women and their rights. And the position of the women in society is not less than a slave in a male chauvinist society. In these traditional male-dominated societies women are dependent first on their father and then their husband, and they are expected to obey. Women are viewed as a property and not as individuals. If they refused to obey their male family member they face extreme violence as punishment.

Culture of prestige

The concept of family prestige is extremely important in several religious communities. The most frequently quoted figure published by the United Nation in 2000 is an estimate of 5,000 killings worldwide each year. The family is viewed as the main source of honour and the community highly values the relationship between honour and the family. Acts by the family members which may be considered inappropriate are bringing shame to the family in the eyes of the community.

Forced suicide: Around the Globe

A forced suicide may be a substitute of an honour killing. In this case, the family members do not directly kill the victim themselves but force him or her to commit suicide, to avoid punishment. Such suicide is reported to be common in south-eastern turkey. It was reported that in 2001, 565 women lost their lives in honour-related crimes.

Forced marriage

In the case of an unmarried woman or girl associating herself with a man, losing virginity, or being raped, the family may attempt to restore its ‘honour’ with a ‘shotgun wedding’. The groom will usually be the man who has ‘dishonoured’ the women or girl, but if this not possible the family may try to arrange a marriage with another man, often a man who is part of the extended family of the one who has committed the acts with the woman or girl. This being an alternative to an honour killing, the woman or girl has no choice but to accept the marriage. The family of the man is expected to cooperate and provide a room for the woman.

What are the laws in India to prevent honour killing?

Section 299-304: penalizes any person guilty of murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The punishment for murder is a life sentence or death and fine. The punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder is life imprisonment or imprisonment for up to 10 years fine

Section 307 – penalize attempt to commit culpable homicide by imprisonment for up to 3 years or with fine or with both. If it causes hurt, the Peron shall be imprisoned for up to 7 years or fined or both.

Section 308 – penalizes attempt to commit culpable homicide by imprisonment for up to 3 years or with fine or with both. It causes hurt, the person shall be imprisoned for up to 7 years or fined or both.

Section 120A and B – penalizes any person who is a party to a criminal conspiracy.

Section 107-116 – penalize persons for abetment of offences including murder and culpable and homicide.

Section 34 and 35 – penalizes criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.

Section 300 – introduce “fifthly” cause to section 300 of IPC which at present defines “murder” under four categories. The additional definition would make khap-dictated honour killings a distinct offence and make all those who participate in the decision liable to be tried for the main charge, that is murder, and liable maximum penalty, death.

Arguments against the new law

The existing penalty for the offence of murder is enough if they are implemented strictly and effectively.

A new set of laws would not deter honour killing because of the basic issue of social sanction for acts committed to curtailing same gotra marriage, inter-caste marriage, inter-religion marriage.

There is a need for creating awareness among traditional communities through education. Holding khap panchayats collectively accountable can be detrimental to members who do not support such killing. Also, it could be misused for showing a strong unreasoning desire for revenge agendas.

Arguments favouring the new law

Making the crime of honour killing a separate offence would help bring more clarity for law enforcement agencies.One of the proposals is to amend the Indian Evidence Act to put the burden of proof on the accused. Thus, the khap panchayat or the family members would be responsible for proving their innocence.

There would be joint liability under the proposed new law. The khap panchayat (or any group ordering honour killings and the person who carries out the killing would be jointly liable for punishment. Presently there is no definition of Honour killing/ crime or clarity.

The new law provides a mandate for special police cell in each district to provide protection to couples.

The new law comes with an institutional machinery and the required coordination of all stakeholders. It will also mandate the different state government and the centre to work on sensitization of the law enforcement agency. The new law mandate social initiative and awareness to curb to such violence through social means.

Conclusion

Honour killing is a stigma. Women and men lost their lives in the name society and culture norms. Killing someone for honour is a most inhumane activity done by the human. There are several filthy activities can be seen so frequently in media throughout the country. There are many cases of women being branded witches, paraded naked, tortured in public which are extremely heinous offences of honour. This is the reason women face rape, sexual assault, physical violence incidents have occurred, and these are an endless crime which women have been facing for hundreds of years. There should be special laws included for women.

The Worst Humanitarian Crises- An Ignored War of Yemen and Saudi Arabia Yemen is the poorest nation in the Gulf region and due t...

Comments

Archive

Recent News

About Me

People can read facts yet to be wise, the mind needs the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right. Wise is someone who uses good judgment, has common sense or is well informed. Once the degrees/ colleges are over, we tend to stick to the information we are taught and forget what is to unlearn and relearn.
Seeker’s Thoughts intend to help people with right content, facts and critical issues of the nation and the world.
Seeker's thoughts has been founded by Namrata Chauhan (MBA- Human Resource and Information Technology), who has worked for the industry for 5 years as Human Resource Manage. She has experience of the market and events which are going to impact on the future of Human Capital- that is our youth today. And, Co- founded by Alveera Khan - M.A in Psychology, blogger, writer and a social worker for the purpose of educating the mass without a political narratives and polarization where the truth stands as a simple truth. How much polarization can cost the world peace and growth- this is no longer hidden.
As responsible earthlings- the emotion of giving back ‘dominated the mind’ and curiosity kept the leaning alive. Therefore, the idea of Seeker's thoughts took birth and in the span of just six months has won more than 5000 hearts on social networking site like facebook and the number changes every day.(The link of facebook- https://www.facebook.com/seekersthoughts)
"Our aim is to take away the ignorance and helping the world to go towards- wisdom."
- Thank you
Team Seeker